What is the role of CT and MRI in the detection of early inflammatory bowel disease?
Early manifestations of Crohn’s disease including enlarged lymphoid follicles, erosions, and aphthoid ulcers are only detectable on colonoscopy and conventional enteroclysis. CT and MRI can help identify and characterize abnormal bowel segments in advanced disease and identify extraluminal findings in order to guide treatment, including surgery when indicated (e.g., when there is bowel stenosis, perforation, or fistulas).
